voiceofsandiego.org: Letters... Councilmen Acted Like High School Students

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 | Leave it to a high school student to recognize high school behavior when she sees it.

I took my daughter out of school yesterday so she could further her education by watching our government in action, rather than on TV. We attended yesterday's afternoon session of the City Council meeting.

Imagine my dismay at having her witness Councilman Jim Madaffer and Councilman Ben Hueso snickering and playing around together like school boys during the opposition comments on the Centerpointe Project in Grantville. I hoped she hadn't noticed, but she leaned over to me and said "Mom, they're making fun of the speakers."

Whether they were or not, that's the impression she took away from her experience. As an adult I am outraged by their lack of respect to the citizens who had taken time away from their jobs or other obligations to come down there to be heard. We don't act like that toward them. They should have the good sense to not act that way toward us. Councilmen, just because the camera is not on you doesn't mean you aren't being seen.

Is that what leadership looks like?

Since I've seen this behavior at the Board of Supervisors I would put nothing past the San Diego City Council—nothing!

Posted by Howiek | reply to this comment
May 16, 2007 3:11 am

Just as disturbing was the realization that we had all wasted our time. Madaffer had obviously made his decision before we even showed up, and had received the agreement of other councilmembers outside of the council chambers. It is something that is true of almost every item that comes before the council. Only Frye and Maienschein seem to reserve their judgment until after we've spoken. So what am I supposed to say when neighbors ask me what is the point of showing up? After showing up for over ten years to make comment on items, I always now walk away with that very same question ringing in my ears.

Posted by Theresa Quiroz | reply to this comment
May 16, 2007 3:18 am

Excellent observation skills by the young lady. The two council members mentioned consistently ignore public input. Mr. Hueso rarely has an original thought at council comment interludes. He is a parrot for whatever some one from the majority opines. Mr. Madaffer will look interested if he knows that a camera, a reporter, or a developer is watching. Otherwise, Jim has the attention span of a 7 yr. old entering our world famous zoo. These two council members are poster boys for arrogant and dismissive interest of the public, which they are paid to represent. I hope that this young student shares her observations with classmates and encourages her friends to watch city television, so that they can witness civics in action. No matter how rude it can be at various times.

Posted by DP | reply to this comment
May 16, 2007 4:02 am

This is why the community needs to join together and vote for whoever the opposition is. If they are seated in office they got to go. How could it get any worse than what we have. The short answer to that question is that it can not be. What ever happened to the MEDIA.. why do they not cover this information. To bad we dont vote for the media also.

Posted by george | reply to this comment
May 16, 2007 6:45 am

Theresa: You appear before the city council because not to so would allow cronyism and worse to continue in San Diego. You are elequent and so you are dangerous to those who want to perpetuate the status quo. Four council members will leave next year-I believe none of them will be able to win elective office ever again. I will oppose any paid public appointment they may be offered. Keep up the good work. Ian Chris70@cox.net

Posted by Ian Trowbridge | reply to this comment
May 16, 2007 8:21 am

The young lady's observations of the two council members are right on target, as are DP's that Madaffer and Hueso are arrogant and dismissive of comments from the public and the speakers themselves. Phil Hart eloquently stated to Madaffer several weeks ago that Non-Agenda Public Comment speakers wouldn't have to say the same things if the City Council members were paying attention and actually acted on some of the requests/complaints from the public. This was in response to Madaffer's comment at an earlier council meeting that the Council hears the same things from the public during their time to address the City Hall Eight and thus, wasted their valuable time. It's obvious they forgot who elected them and to whom they should report rather than treating the public like chattel.

Posted by Buddy in Mission Valley | reply to this comment
May 17, 2007 9:00 pm

The Council makes up their collective minds long before the public strolls up to the mircrophone. Public comments are a mere formality. Some of the members do not have the cognitive ability to understand the public comments anyway so the waste of time cuts both ways!

Posted by The Roaming Gnone | reply to this comment
May 17, 2007 10:14 pm

OK, Everybody ready? 5--6--7--8 MOOOOOO!

Posted by Christopher Hall | reply to this comment
May 17, 2007 10:26 pm

High School students are often ridiculed and used as an example of how not to behave....I daresay 90% of high school students have better manners and would show a greater respect in this situation. A better analogy may be the chimpanzees who interrupt the zoo tour guides. Where is the leader of this legal body and why are they not correcting the rudeness? A spotlight should shine on those who do not know how to act professionally in city government. I appreciate that this has happened.

Posted by Georgia | reply to this comment
June 3, 2007 9:44 am

Councilmen Acted Like High School Students

By Linda Wilson, Serra Mesa